SIX COPIES OF “TRIBUNE”

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 43, 14 November 1940, Page 11

SIX COPIES OF “TRIBUNE”

Possessor Charged

BELIEVED SUCCESSOR TO

“PEOPLE’S VOICE

That be had in his possession six copies of the “Tribune.” a duplicated paper said to be the successor of the “People’s Voice,” and three copies of “Peace and Socialism,” a booklet by G. Dimitrov, with a view to the publication of subversive statements, was alleged against Edward Harrison, janitor at Weir House, in the Magistrates’ Court. Wellington, yesterday. He pleaded not guilty, reserved his defence and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial. Mr. Stilwell, S.M., was on the bench. Mr. AV. R. Birks appeared for the Crown and Mr. A. R. Perry for Harrison. Detective S. C. Browne said he interviewed accused at Weir House, telling him that complaints had been received that he was distributing the “People’s Voice.” The “People’s Voice was the official organ of the Communist Party and till May had been sold as a printed newspaper, but since the publishers had been ordered by the Attor-ney-General to cease its publication it had been distributed in duplicated form. Accused denied that he had distributed the “People’s Voice,” but when he was asked if he had any copies he said he had one. Harrison, Detective McPhee and witness went to accused’s bedroom, witness continued, and accused produced from a drawer a copy of the “Tribune, which was the “People’s Voice” with the name changed. Witness found five more copies of the “Tribune” of the same date in the drawer. Asked for an explanation, accused said he did not know anything about them, but that he had asked for a copy of the “People s Voice” for himself and had got one and put it in his drawer. In another drawer witness found the booklets. These Harrison said he had bought for himself. ■While the two detectives were searching the room, said witness, accused said he was the secretary of the Friends of the Soviet Union and that illustrated magazines in his possession had been sent, through the post in the usual wav to him in his capacity as secretary. Detective N. J. McPhee gave corroborative evidence. Bail was allowed.